Turn Around Times

Written by Robert Storer Created on 20 November 2012 Updated on 19 March 2018.

Turnaround times, High risk, retention and reports

The majority of urgent biopsy specimens are reported within 7 days of receipt, but Major resections, complex cases and specimens requiring special techniques will take longer. If delays are anticipated, an interim/provisional report will be issued or the lead clinician contacted by telephone.

It is the departments aim to report 75% of inpatient cases, 80% outpatient cases and 90% of direct access cases within 10 working days.

Due to increased workload and some staff vacancies, the turnaround times are increased at present. Please highlight any specimens that may need prioritising.

High risk cases are left to fix for 24 hours after the date the specimen was taken, prior to cut-up.

Additional examinations on wet tissues are possible upto 28 days after a final report has been issued. Additional examinations on the tissue blocks can be requested upto 30 years post reporting. Microscope slide preparations of routine cases are available for examination 20 years post reporting. HER2 FISH slide preparations are kept 12 months post reporting. If a request has been made to freeze tissue it is kept for 10 years in liquid nitrogen. Human DNA is kept for 30 years for familial studies in the laboratory freezer.

Pathology reports are available to medical, selected nursing and secretarial staff within the Trust via the hospital intranet. Similar facilities are available to GP users.

Protection of Personal Information – Laboratory Medicine comply with the Trust Data Protection Policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and it’s employees to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

The Trust Laboratories at Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital were awarded UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation to the internationally recognised ISO 15189 standard in May 2015. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the test database http://www.heftpathology.com/frontpage/test-database.html.Tests not appearing on this scope are either under consideration or in the process of accreditation and so currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.